Barry Eugene Panza

Barry Eugene Panza

Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, & Brother -

Barry Eugene Panza, age 73, of Thompsontown, went home to be with Jesus with his loving wife by his side on Sunday, June 18, 2017.  Barry was born on Saturday, April 15, 1944 in Mechanicsburg to the late Foster A. Panza Sr. and Rhoda E. (Smith) Panza.

Barry’s survivors include his wife of 18 years, Patsy Jean (Martin) Panza; his five children: Michelle Range and her husband, Todd, and their children: Hannah, Hailee, and Hayden, of St. Augustine, FL, Bryan Panza and his sons: Hunter and Bryce, of Mesa, AZ, Bevan Panza and his son, Baren, of Corpus Christi, TX, Kristen Price of Thompsontown, PA, Keri Garrison and her husband, Tim, and their children, Tenley and Tavish, of Austin, TX; his brother, Foster A. Panza, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann, of Hernando, FL; and his beloved cats, who meant the world to him: Stubbie, Hooie, Daisy, Sonny, and Fuzzy Butt.

Barry graduated from Mechanicsburg High School as part of the class of 1963 and he proudly served in the United States Navy.  For those who knew Barry Panza, he was an exceptional father, husband, manager, cutup, prankster, and friend.  He loved his eight cats (yes, eight) and going antiquing with his wife.  He made everyone feel comfortable around him; no one was a stranger around Barry. His co-workers highly respected him; not because he demanded it, but because he earned it.  Barry excelled in crisis management; both while being employed with various airlines after getting out of the Navy as an aviation structural mechanic in the 1960’s Vietnam Era and during his 30 years with the Department of Defense.  He managed seven aircraft manufacturing and repair shops at once and designed numerous composite tools.  His development, research, and engineering skills while working for the DoD earned him various awards from the Department of the Army, including those that had a first year savings in excess of $7 million and withstood AAA Congressional Audits for Boeing.

He was a maintenance director and Division Chief at the New Cumberland Army Depot and the Corpus Christi Army Depot.  He always said that, “if it weren’t for the Texas heat, I’d still be doing it.” He retired in 1997 when he and his wife, Patsy, moved to Pennsylvania where they continued his creative development skills with a wood crafting business selling thousands of products locally, nationally, and abroad.  He loved working in his 6,000 square foot shop, which he referred to as, “The Shed.” In fact, you could always bet that Barry, on any given day, was in his shop creating and building something new or smoking brisket on his smoker trailer.  There is absolutely no doubt he will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.  Barry Panza was ready when his Father Jesus called him home on Father’s Day, June 18, 2017 and the first thing he probably heard when he walked through those pearly gates was, “maintenance!” and he quickly began assessing, managing, and working alongside his Father on Father’s Day, in his new Home. We love you Barry! We love you so much!!

Barry’s family will be remembering his life privately.  Cremation was private.

Contributions in celebration of Barry’s life can be made to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, 7790 Grayson Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111-5417, www.HumaneSocietyHbg.org.

Barry’s family has entrusted his care to Myers – Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Barry’s full obituary, view picture, and sign his official guest book at Buhrig.com.